System and method for short-range electronic communication

Abstract

A system and method for transferring information over a short range are disclosed. The system and method can be used for a variety of applications, including administrative provisioning of information to particular users, providing information relating to a user during a conference call, handing off calls to or from another phone, for other application deployment, for pass of control, and similar applications. The system includes a first device capable of short-range communication and having a client application thereon and a second device capable of short-range communication and having a client or an administrator application thereon. Information is passed between the first device and the second device using short range communication.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of communication on a conference call the method comprising the steps of:
 establishing a conference call between at least one telephony device and a collaboration appliance, the collaboration device coupled to a short-range communication component; 
 placing a mobile device having short-range communication capabilities proximate the short-range communication component; 
 establishing a participant list comprising participant information regarding participants on the conference call, wherein at least participant information for a user of the mobile device is established on the list automatically using short-range communication; 
 disseminating the participant list via the collaboration appliance to participants on the conference call; 
 updating the participant list as participants join or leave the conference call; 
 transferring the call from the collaboration appliance to the mobile device; and optionally updating the participant list to inform the other participants of the transfer to the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of updating the user participant list using information transmitted using short-range communication. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of installing a client program on the mobile device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the collaboration appliance comprises one of a telephone or a computer. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the short-range communication is a distance of about two feet or less. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the short-range communication is a distance of about 4 cm or less. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of transferring a call between the mobile device and another device. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying a prompt on the mobile device to remain on the conference call or to end the call.